Anti-apartheid activist Zacharia Keodirelang Matthews dedicated his life to the education of others, and shaped the minds of prominent freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and others. As a lecturer and later the principal of the University College of Fort Hare, he played a pivotal role in the fight against apartheid. more

South African heroes of science are varied and include renowned surgeons and physicists, geneticists and mathematicians and even an IT genius turned astronaut. The country has also produced an endless list of inventors whose innovative products have made it onto the international stage. more

South African innovations are varied and many. The country is recognised for its contributions to technological innovation worldwide. South Africa is also a strong driver of science and technology on the African continent, where many South African inventions have helped improve the lives of the rural poor. more

Messengers of change have marked South Africa’s political landscape from as early as the 1900s. South Africa’s history is a complex one – but there have always been courageous men and women clearing the path for the human rights of the everyday man up until the country became a democratic society in 1994. more

South African history has a great deal to thank Pixley Isaka Ka Seme for. A lawyer, his single most important contribution was the call for unity amongst blacks despite racial and tribal difference. Seme is one of the founding members of the African National Congress. more

Oliver Reginald Tambo was a pivotal figure in the African National Congress (ANC) and the anti-apartheid movement. Known fondly as OR Tambo, he dedicated his life to the fight against inequality and spent over 30 years in exile in the UK where he mobilized support for the ANC in the struggle against apartheid. more

Nelson Mandela’s name is synonymous with liberation. For years, he "cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons could live together in harmony and with equal opportunities." Years after he began his crusade, Mandela became the first democratically elected president of South Africa. more

Humanitarian hero Nkosi Johnson managed to focus the world's attention on the immense suffering of victims of AIDS by delivering an address at the World AIDS Conference that moved delegates to tears. Years after his tragic death, Nkosi Johnson's story gives a face to the plight of many South Africans. more

Nelson Mandela is the hero of our times. In South Africa, he epitomizes freedom and justice – having dedicated most of his life as a political activist fighting for equality for all South Africans. He was a messenger of hope during the dark period of South Africa’s history, the apartheid years, and continued upon his release from prison to wave the flag of justice. more

Mark Shuttleworth is equally renowned for his entrepreneurial vision and IT innovations as he is for his social efforts, most notably to uplift South African education on a big scale. His unwavering determination to travel into space also saw him become the world’s second, self-funded private citizen to travel into orbit. more

When Mahatma Gandhi had something to say, he did so without raising his voice. This humanitarian hero gave hope to many downtrodden South Africans and helped pave the way to freedom with his insistence on peaceful protest. more

Ken Hall originally designed his Cobb oven as an alternative to the paraffin stoves found in South Africa’s informal settlements. These makeshift stoves are the major cause of deadly settlement fires. The Cobb concept has been very well received and today it’s a popular choice for outdoors enthusiasts everywhere. more

Albert Joseph Mokoena had a natural flair for mathematics. He studied extensively in South Africa and briefly abroad, before becoming a lecturer. Through various teaching posts across Africa, Mokoena aimed to instill in learners a solid understanding and love for maths as a subject. more

Henri Johnson is an engineer who used his background in radar to develop the technology that measures the speed and direction of tennis, cricket and golf balls during play. This innovative technology is used in tournaments around the world and provides fascinating insights into the playing techniques of famous sportspeople. more